Variety of sutera plant named &#39;Wesbavio&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct early flowering sutera plant with intense violet-blue colored flowers and vigorous growth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofSutera plant known by the varietal name ‘Wesbavi’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2001 in a selected breeding program in Südlohn, Germany.The new variety is a selection from the cross of proprietary unpatentedbreeding plants. The growth character of the new variety is similar toits parents but with bigger flowers. The new variety was first asexuallyreproduced in December 2000 by cuttings in Südlohn, Germany. The newvariety has been trial and field tested at Südlohn and has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type throughsuccessive propagations.

[0002] The following traits in combination distinguish ‘Wesbawei’ as anew and distinct cultivar:

[0003] 1. Intense colored flowers.

[0004] 2. Short internodes.

[0005] 3. Compact growth.

[0006] 4. Large flowers.

[0007] 5. Dentate leaf margin.

[0008] The new variety has a similar leaf arrangement to the unpatentedvarieties ‘Seamist’ and ‘Cabane’. However, ‘Wesbavio’ has more compactbranches compared to ‘Seamist’ and ‘Cabane’. The leaves of ‘Wesbavio’have a broader dentation on the margins than ‘Seamist’ and ‘Cabane’. Thepetals of ‘Wesbavio’ are similar to the compared varieties inarrangement, shape, margin, and apex description.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the newvariety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with colorillustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

[0010] The following detailed description sets forth characteristics ofthe new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics werecollected by asexual reproductions carried out in Südlohn, Germany.Plants for the description were 20 weeks old, grown in a greenhouse at20-25° C. daytime temperature and at 16-18° C. night temperature withlight levels of 3,000-50,000 lux. The color readings were taken on aplant outdoors and in a greenhouse under natural light. Color referencesare primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety of London.

PLANT

[0011] Classification:

[0012]Botanical.—Sutera cordata.

[0013]Commercial.—Bacopa.

[0014] Form: Hanging with a compact, spherical shape.

[0015] Height: 18 cm from soil to top of flowers; 60 cm wide.

[0016] Growth: Vigorous.

[0017] Roots:

[0018]Habit.—Fine, well-branched.

[0019]Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at 20° C.

[0020]Time to develop roots.—About 28 days at 20° C.

[0021] Main stem: 55 cm long; 1.1 mm diameter; Yellow-Green Group 144A.

[0022] Lateral branches:

[0023]Form.—Hanging.

[0024]Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.

[0025]Texture.—Pubescent (very short, dense hairs).

[0026]Diameter.—0.7 mm.

[0027]Length.—27 cm.

[0028]Internode length.—1.5 cm.

[0029]Quantity.—2 per node.

[0030] Foliage:

[0031]Arrangement.—Opposite.

[0032]Number of leaves per branch.—2 per node.

[0033]Size of leaf.—Length: 1.27 cm. Width: 1.0 cm.

[0034]Shape of leaf.—Ovate to elliptic.

[0035]Shape of apex.—Acute.

[0036]Shape of base.—Attentuate.

[0037]Texture.—Smooth.

[0038]Aspect.—Mostly flat; slightly cupped.

[0039]Margin type.—Dentate.

[0040]Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 147A-B.Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 147B. Mature leaves: Upper surface:Yellow-Green Group 147A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 147B.

[0041]Petioles.—Length: 2.8 mm. Diameter: 0.95 mm. Color: Yellow-GreenGroup 147A-B.

[0042]Veins.—Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group 147A. Lowersurface: Yellow-Green Group 146C.

FLOWER

[0043] Natural flowering season: Spring through autumn until frost;tolerates temperatures of about 4-30° C.

[0044] Flower type and habit: Single, salverform, long lasting,persistent.

[0045] Number of flowers per plant: Rich blooming.

[0046] Flower size:

[0047]Diameter.—1.4 cm.

[0048]Length.—0.87 cm.

[0049]Tube length.—0.8 cm.

[0050]Tube diameter.—Distal end: 0.4 cm. Proximal end: 0.18 cm.

[0051] Corolla:

[0052]Petal length from throat.—6 mm.

[0053]Petal width.—4 mm.

[0054]Petal quantity.—5, fused.

[0055]Petal apex shape.—Obtuse.

[0056]Texture.—Satiny.

[0057] Color:

[0058]Petals.—When opening: Upper surface: Violet-Blue Group 90C. Lowersurface: Violet-Blue Group 94C. Fully opened: Upper surface: BetweenViolet-Blue Group 90D and Violet Group 85A, changing to Violet-BlueGroup 90D over time. Lower surface: Violet Group 85B-C.

[0059]Flower throat inside surface.—Orange Group 25A; not veined.

[0060]Flower tube.—Outside: Tip: Violet-Blue Group 92D. Middle:Yellow-Orange Group 23A. Base: Yellow-Green Group 150C. Veins: Notveined.

[0061] Peduncle:

[0062]Length.—1.1 cm.

[0063]Diameter.—0.5 mm.

[0064]Color.—Yellow-Green Group 144A.

[0065]Orientation.—Acute angle.

[0066]Strength.—Flexible.

[0067] Bud:

[0068]Shape.—Oblanceolate.

[0069]Length.—6.7 cm.

[0070]Diameter.—2.4 mm.

[0071]Color.—Tip: Violet-Blue Group 97B-D. Middle: Yellow-Orange Group21A. Base: Yellow-Green Group 150C.

[0072] Calyx:

[0073]Arrangement.—Whorled.

[0074]Length.—5 mm.

[0075]Diameter.—2 mm.

[0076]Sepals.—Shape: Needle. Width: 0.7 mm. Length: 4.8 mm. Margin:Entire. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group146A. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group 146A.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

[0077] Stamens:

[0078]Number.—4; on two plains (2 high, 2 low); fused with petals.

[0079]Filament length.—4 mm and 2 mm.

[0080]Anthers.—Shape: Flat, shaped liked beans. Length: 0.8 mm. Width: 1mm. Color: Yellow-Orange Group 21A.

[0081]Pollen.—Color: Yellow-Orange Group 21A. Amount: Moderate.

[0082] Pistil:

[0083]Length.—1.1 cm.

[0084]Style.—Length: 0.75 cm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 154C.

[0085]Stigma.—Shape: Long; curved inwardly. Color: Yellow-Green Group144C. Ovary color: Yellow-Green Group 144B.

[0086] Seeds: Generally none.

[0087] Disease/pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility to diseases orpests has been noted to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sutera plant substantially asshown and described.